Hello! My name is Ava Redlin, and this past summer I had the opportunity to intern with Keystone Cooperative as a Crop Technician. While my major at Purdue University is in Agribusiness rather than Agronomy, this internship helped me quickly build a strong foundation of agronomy knowledge and gain hands-on experience in the field.

Throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to scout corn, soybean, and mint fields. I learned how to take stand counts, identify crop growth stages, and recognize different insects, diseases, weeds, and nutrient deficiencies. Being able to see these things firsthand helped me better understand the concepts I have learned in the classroom and showed me how important attention to detail is when working with crops. Every field brought something different, which made each day a new learning experience.

One of the biggest opportunities I had during my internship was obtaining my drone license by taking the FAA Part 107 exam. As the crops continued to grow taller throughout the summer, my drone became an important tool for scouting fields and getting a better view of crop conditions. This experience also helped me see how technology can play an important role in modern agriculture.

Beyond the agronomy knowledge I gained, this internship also helped me improve my communication, time management, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. I had the opportunity to work alongside people throughout the cooperative and make connections within the agriculture industry.

Overall, my summer with Keystone Cooperative was an experience I am incredibly grateful for. I entered the internship with limited agronomy experience and left with a much better understanding of crop production and the many factors that affect a field. As I return to Purdue, I am excited to bring the knowledge and experiences I gained this summer into the classroom and continue building my future in agriculture.